respiratory diseases Flashcards
what is a respiratory tract disease?
diseases that affect the air passages, including the nasal passages, the bronchi and the lungs
what is allergic rhinitis?
hay fever! allergic nose inflammation
induced after exposure to allergens
IgE mediated hypersensitivity reaction
characterised by 4 cardinal symptoms: watery rhinorrhea (runny nose), nasal obstruction, nasal itching and sneezing.
Early reaction:
sneezing and rhinorrhea develops usually within 30 minutes or less and disappears in approx. 1 hour
Mast cells induce nasal symptoms by secreting histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes
Late reaction:
nasal obstruction approx. 6 hours after exposure to allergens and subsides slowly
Eosinophils, mast cells and T cells migrate to nasal mucosa – inflammation of nasal tissue and result in nasal obstruction
what is the link b/w allergic rhinitis and asthma??
almost all asthma pts have AR symptoms
share similar triggers and pathophysiology
what is asthma?
chronic inflammatory airway disorder comprising:
airway hyper responsiveness w/ recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest, SOB, irritable cough at night (especially in children)
ASTHMA IS REVERSIBLE.
What are some predisposing factors of asthma?
what are some triggers?
medical history of.. atophy, hypersensitivity, allergies, rhinitis, eczema
house dust mite, pollen, cat/dog fur, heat/cold, URTI, activity (running), fungal spores
rhonchi?
stridor?
crackles?
wheezing?
- sounds like snoring, air tries to pass through bronchi that contain fluid or mucus
- high pitched, more musical sound that wheeze, occurs when upper airway narrows/obstructed
- may sound wet/dry, fine/coarse, sounds like sipping the end of the drink through the straw, usually result of fluid accumulation in lung tissue
- high and squeaky sounds, small airways narrow, bronchi become inflammed, narrrowed/obstructed
Normal Values of Arterial Blood Gases
pH: 7.35-7.45
partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) = 35-45mmHg
partial pressure of O2 (PaO2)= 80-100mmHg
what are the 2 aims of pharmacological treatment in COPD??
- RELIEVE SYMPTOMS
2. IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
what is COPD?
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
includes chronic bronchitis, irreversible asthma and emphysema
what is chronic bronchitis?
inflammation caused by chronic bronchial secretions and narrowing of the bronchi. increases mucus production.
narrowing and blockage of bronchi, poor ciliary function, decreased elimination of mucus,
SYX: productive cough, wheezing/rhonchi, dyspnoea on exertion,
what is irreversible asthma?
poorly controlled asthma= multiple acute exacerbations= remodelling and chronic inflammatory changes cause irreversible in lung function.
changes in epithelium, goblet cell and submucosal gland enlargement, reduced lung function. barrel chest
what is emphysema?
chronic progressive disease affecting the alveoli
over inflation of the alveoli due to the walls breaking down= less surface area for gas exchange to occur= exchange of CO2 and O2 are impaired, air gets trapped in alveoli
what is tuberculosis?
disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis- reaches alveoli and begin to replicate. can be spread by coughing etc.
disease can clear, can become latent, active disease
SYX: unexpained weight loss, loss of apetite, night sweats, fever, fatigue, resp-cough, chest pain
treated with chemotherapy- 4 drugs
what is pneumonia?
infection in the lungs, caused by bacteria , viruses, by ventiliator, aspiration
lung tissue becomes inflamed, alveoli fill with exudate, decreased gas exchange
SYX: dyspnoea, SOB, chest pain, cough, fever, fatigue, increased RR.
TREATMENT: antibiotics
what is bronchiolitis?
MOST COMMONLY CAUSED BY RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV)
inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles
virus spreads to bronchi and bronchioles, causes epithelial necrosis, initiates inflammatory response, results in exudate and oedema which causes partial obstruction, alveolar air trapping
